Women scientists speak out against gender bias on Twitter with #Girlswithtoys
Twitter exploded. Again. This time after Shrinivas Kulkarni, an astronomer and professor of Indian-origin at the reputed California Institute of Technology, made a casual remark in an
The interview itself was casual, discussing nothing more than the scientist’s life and hobbies (which includes rearing rabbits). The interview even ends with Kulkarni exploring the idea of becoming a bartender.
But it was the gender remark that resonated with users of Twitter. It touched on the gender bias in science which many believe is a product of centuries of cultural conditioning on the role of women.
The reputed journal Nature said in an editorial that overt or unconscious bias against women is an insidious problem that deters them from the field of science. For some, Kulkarni’s remarks are proof of the deep-rooted bias that cuts across cultures.
Women, mostly from the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), responded on Twitter with the hashtag #Girlswithtoys along with images of them with machinery, test tubes and telescopes.
Here are some of those tweets:
Oldie but a goodie when I cut my teeth on cryogenic testing. Thesis instrument! Learning never stops. #GirlsWithToys pic.twitter.com/hwE4RC45qj
— Kimberly EnnicoSmith (@kennicosmith) May 19, 2015
I’m studying engineering and I love to play with boiled water and lasers ! Leidenfrost effect #GirlWithToys pic.twitter.com/Yjgl7Dy0MQ
— aurelie (@by_aurel) May 18, 2015
In college, I worked on the satellite design team. Here I’m shake testing our prop system! #GirlWithToys #WomeninSTEM pic.twitter.com/nFqF3PwAvF
— Stephanie Evans (@StephEvz43) May 17, 2015
Ahem. Here are some girls with telescopes #GirlWithToys @nprscience pic.twitter.com/6iuheZFEYE
— Nicole Gugliucci (@NoisyAstronomer) May 16, 2015
Me at 21, observing exoplanet transits on Mauna Kea for the 1st time #GirlWithToys @nprscience pic.twitter.com/zQrw9PV2p9
— Nicole C. (@jazztronomy) May 18, 2015
Satellites and robots! #GirlWithToys pic.twitter.com/zcdW8ihFsy
— Caleigh MacPherson (@ScottishRobot) May 17, 2015
Carnegie staff astronomer Juna Kollmeier with the 6.5-meter (256 inch primary) #girlswithtoys pic.twitter.com/hwXd4JrrRa
— Carnegie Astronomy (@CarnegieAstro) May 16, 2015
Even theorists get to play on occasion! #girlswithtoys pic.twitter.com/rRe559w1bV
— Susanna Kohler (@susannakohler) May 17, 2015
Playing with my ATCA crate and multi-gigabit data processing boards #girlswithtoys @nprscience pic.twitter.com/BwB70h50N7
— Lauren Tompkins (@ltbikes) May 17, 2015
Women scientists speak out against gender bias on Twitter with #Girlswithtoys
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